Sentinel-6 carries a radar altimeter to provide high-precision and timely observations of the topography of the global ocean.

This information is essential for the continued monitoring of changes in sea level, a key indicator of climate change. It is also essential for operational oceanography.

Mapping up to 95% of Earth's ice-free ocean every 10 days, it will offer vital information on ocean currents, wind speed and wave height for maritime safety. The data will also important for protecting and managing the increasingly busy coastal zones.

Sentinel-6 builds on heritage from the Jason series of ocean topography satellites and from ESA's CryoSat mission. Importantly, this new mission is designed to complement ocean information from Sentinel-3.